Nostalgia

*Pictured: My youngest sister Jacqui Gold portraying Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland.' Wearing the Pink Lady Brooch. Photo Credit: Jen Gold. You can find her on Facebook: Jen Gold Photography.

The boss man forwarded me a chain letter today. Usually when I receive such a 'gift' in my inbox, I make my vehement detest known: "Go get a wife or something!" At 60 years old, thrice engaged but never married, and with an ex-girlfriend list that puts many eternal bachelors' to shame, the chances of this are slim to none. Still, I remain hopeful.
Today's chain letter was different, though. It didn't annoy me. In fact, it made me shed a little tear. The subject line read: "nostalgia" and the body of the email contained pictures associated with memories of someone's childhood in the 40's and 50's. It looked so peaceful and uncomplicated; so happy and carefree. I found myself wandering back in time to my own childhood, which I recall being quite similar to the images from the 50's.

The 80's and 90's were a great time to be a kid. Without the internet clogging up our lives and destroying our creativity, my generation was able to enjoy full use of our imaginations. Sure, we had Nintendo and computer games, but it was so much different. I mean, Oregon Trail? Talk about simple one-dimensional graphics. But man, it was the coolest game in 2nd grade! In my house, we were not allowed to play video games. Only educational computer games and even those were limited to a certain amount of time per day. TV was always considered a privilege, not a right. Most of the time, my sisters and I played in the neighborhood with our friends. We rode bikes, played dress up, scraped our knees, and decorated (read: ruined) our clothes with grass stains. My parents encouraged reading over all other activities. My sisters and I read voraciously, and enjoyed every moment of it. Most nights, we fell asleep with books on our faces. I played roller hockey for hours every day with the boys on our street-- I was a bit of a tomboy in those days, and they accepted me as one of them. I suppose I’ve always been an "Honorary (Something)."

We made popsicles from juice, homemade ice cream, and built forts in our backyard. I played Barbies with friends or my sisters until I was 12.

In short, we made do with every resource made available to us, and as a result, we experienced something I fear kids’ today miss out on...the beauty of human interaction and building of good communication skills.
I see the connection to this simple time slipping away from my generation and it makes me a little sad. We are so consumed by the digital age that something as simple as verbal communication has fallen by the waste-side. It occurred to me just the other day that I had gone nearly the whole day without interacting with a single human being with the exception of text, email and Social Media. I didn't actually open my mouth to speak until late afternoon. This reality blew my mind.

I love talking. I could talk and talk and talk and never shut up ever if it wasn't socially weird and annoying. I can be a bit compulsive about it. My mind is in constant motion, and I fear, if I didn't let all the words out, I might internally combust. This obsessive need for discourse does not fare well in an age when it is common for thoughts to be expressed in 160 characters or less.
Ok, so I was the girl in English class who repeatedly had her paper returned with "please condense. I asked for 5 pages, not a novel." It was hard for me to only write 5 pages back then, so how the hell am I supposed to cut back to 5 words now?!

Yes, the modern age gives me much anxiety. I would prefer a world where people say what is on their mind rather than invent an acronym for it; where families talk at the dinner table; where people are about action, not about words summed up in 160 characters or less.

This is what I remember from childhood. This is my version of utopia. This is nostalgia.

So, I am forced to accept the world as it is today. It’s fine. Really, it’s cool. We’ve gone to great lengths to create a more simplified life for ourselves, and, like most people, I enjoy the perks of the Pandora’s Box that is the internet and the instant gratification of reaching anyone anywhere anytime and using a myriad of technological platforms. It’s pretty damn lovely. But I still prefer talking to a representative over an automated phone service.

Changing Leaves

With Fall in full force and Thanksgiving only a week away, I felt it only appropriate to dedicate this week's entry to my absolute favorite thing ever: giving thanks. I know, I know, puhleeease, right?! But I'm serious! "Thank You" is my favorite word..er, 2 words. "Thank you" is such an over-used part of my vocabulary, I have been known to say it at the most inopportune times (when distracted). Case in point--the other day as I got off the elevator on my floor in my apartment building I said "thank you" to a neighbor as the doors opened. It immediately occurred to me how absurd it was for me to be thanking him for this mechanical function-- as if he had telepathically willed the doors open or something. Embarrassed, I uttered the second most-used word from my internal dictionary: "sorry," followed by, "I don't know why I just said that?!" As the doors started to close again, I tapped them and said, "Thank you elevator for opening and closing." Sometimes they don't open and people get stuck, so I wasn't too far off, but the neighbor just looked at me puzzled. I don't blame him. Nut job much?

In lieu of a lengthy "things I am thankful for" list this year-- because seriously, I write one every year and the self indulgent Miss America-esque "I am thankful for the sun and the rain and the apple seed and all the life lessons" crap is bordering on hackneyed pastiche-- I am serving up a giveaway in the form of a custom-made, handcrafted bracelet for 2 lucky winners. The Bracelets will include Onyx beads, gold-plated spacers and wood beads in the color choice of the winners. These bracelets are priced at $30 a piece or $120 for a set of 5 (this is how I like to wear them. Makes your wrist a theatrical attraction), so this is a HUGE deal. Oh yeah, and a free Brooch will be included, too. Holy cow! I couldn't be more thankful for all the support and love I have received since starting the Brooch Brat business, especially now with the bracelet addition. So as a sign of my gratitude, I am pouring it like gravy onto you...ummm?...yeah, I'm just gonna go with that...

All you have to do to enter this awesome contest is somehow, someway, through whatever means you feel appropriate (though written form is probably best), tell me your fave jewelry/bracelet brand. That's it! I have decided to extend the contest to Monday, so you have ALL WEEKEND to think about it. But don't over think it! Hey overachievers-- you know who you are. This is really easy. Just throw a name out there. Whatever comes to mind first. What happens next is really neato...I will draw 2 names at random on Monday and VOILA! 2 winners will be crowned, or, have their wrists adorned with sparkly jewels, rather.

Ladies and gents, start. your. engines...and have a very Happy Gobble Gobble time with your family, friends or whoever you will be Gobble Gobblin' with a week from today :)

Under Your Skin

*Pictured "Under Your Skin" love bead bracelets. Containing onyx and wood beads with gold plated bead spacers. Email for price!

There are the ones we love and the ones who get under our skin. The deeper they get, the harder they are to let go of.
I saw the movie "Like Crazy" last night, which touches on this very subject. Actually, "touch" is a bit of an understatement. *Spoiler Alert* The film literally 'gets under your skin' as you become deeply absorbed in this young, doomed couple who are sorting out the complexities of a long distance relationship while embarking on their respective careers. Scenes of them in social settings-- she in London, he in LA-- depict them as distracted, not fully present in their surroundings. He finds himself in a new relationship with a hot blonde who is ridiculously in love with him, and you almost get the sense that he has moved on...but...as soon as the Brit texts him, he is right back with her emotionally. Over the course of a few years they battle with immigration (because she violated her student visa after graduating college) and the emotional turmoil of not being able to be with the one you love. At the end of the film, they are finally able to be with each other in the same place, but the ending is ambiguous. There are flash backs to when the couple first met-- the newness of young love; the excitement and purity of it-- and the brief moments of happiness when they were reunited again and again. It is clear by the end of the film that they are not the same. Their relationship is not the same.
I left the theater with many questions: Do they stay together? Was that itchy, yearning, under-your-skin crazy love they felt for each other heightened simply by the fact that they couldn't be together, which made them more desirable? Were the long periods of separation followed by short spurts of togetherness enough to build a lasting relationship? Most of what they were building in their young professional lives, they had built apart from each other.
What I walked away with was this feeling of something bittersweet brewed up from memories of young love. In those new and wonderful moments, nothing else seems to exist or matter. There is just the two of you and you are going to be together forever...and then life happens. It's just there, in your face and suddenly, you realize that you are not in control like you thought you were.
My sequel story to "Like Crazy," which I would title, "Like, Really Crazy," or something along those lines, would see the couple staying together. Not in some dramatic Hollywood "yeah right" sort of way. They have an uphill battle for sure, but they will fight for their relationship together and make it work. The logical, non-pretend-director me isn't so convinced, though. In my own experiences, it never quite works out the way you want it to. I suppose someday it will, but it will be much different. More grown-up and real. Less fervent and impulsive. Now the dates I go on are experienced in a very practical manner, taking the usual points into consideration: compatibility, career, long term goals, could we build a future together? Is he stable and reliable?... In our late twenties it is difficult to not approach things this way. We are all a bit more guarded, sometimes emotionally scarred-- we've all experienced heartache. So it makes perfect sense that at a certain point you just get practical. All the gusto and crazy-under-your-skin feelings were expended on the first ones. The youthful ones that came with no strings attached, no expectations, or deadlines or ultimatums. No biological clock screaming "it's time girl! Your eggs are dying!"
It would be nice if things could work out with that one who gets under your skin. I am both envious and happy for the people who find this sort of love and hold on to it for dear life. Or maybe they separate for awhile and get reunited-- I love those stories the best. I am steadfast in my belief that you end up right where you are are supposed to be when you let fate do it's thing. If it's meant to be, it will be. If it's not, let it be. We've all tried to force situations that aren't right, if not physically, in our own minds. We justify behaviors, words...dissecting them until they are shredded into indecipherable pieces. And for what? Piece of mind? We never achieve it that way.
The day I realized that a great many questions we have, especially pertaining to love, will never be answered, was the day I let go of things I realized I couldn't control and regained control over myself. Of course, I want that crazy, under-your-skin love again. I look forward to the day that my solo home becomes a couple home and hopefully a family home. I will welcome all of this when it feels right. When the stars are aligned. When fate is in control.

Bon Voyage

During the 10 1/2 hour flight back to Los Angeles from London I watched quite a few movies and TV shows made available through awesome new technology. Or maybe it's not new, but the individual TV screens, movies and TV shows that played on demand were totally new and wonderful to me. Perusing the list of recent Blockbuster titles, I settled on "Midnight in Paris." So what I had seen it twice already. What was once more? Turns out the third time was the charm and so appropriate given my just ended vacation to Paris and London.
Since about 18 years old, I've had a real fascination with Parisian culture. First with the Fin de siècle period when Impressionist art was at it's height. This expanded to an interest in Expat culture circa the 1920's. I had read a few of Hemingway's masterpieces during high school and loved them. Even though I didn't fully understand the subject matter, his style of writing, which he referred to as the iceberg theory-- basically, facts over supporting structure and symbolism-- I fell in love with. This was a big change, coming from the flowery, adjective-filled Jane Austen and Romantic period writings I had devoured during Junior High. Hemingway is raw. And then of course, T.S. Elliott's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and later "The Picture of Dorian Gray," (although, he was part of the Fin de siècle period) and the fantastic F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Flappers and Philosophers" and "The Great Gatsby." During a brief stint with film degree interests my freshman year of college, I learned all about Dali and Surrealism- ate that ish UP. From there, my interests expanded to French and Italian films, in particular, Fellini and Godard, and then a fascination with 60's culture in general but mostly dedicated to French French French. Looking back at my interests over the years, they border on predictable and cliche, but I'm not embarrassed at all by them. They make absolute sense, and there was a definite natural evolution to them.

I won't say that traveling alone was the sole culprit in the end of a girlish fling with Expat art culture, but it was a huge contributor. My first visit to Paris at 23 was magical for lack of a better adjective. Sitting at Hemingway's favorite cafe sipping on a kir, riding a bike to Versailles for a grand tour of it's massive and beautiful grounds. Experiencing the Metro like a true Parisian. I had boy-short hair and wanted to look and feel French. But I was with my family who happens to be very good at acclimating to new surroundings, we are physically fit unlike the stereotypical fat American tourists with fanny packs and big cameras around their necks, and my Step mom speaks French very well, so we fit right in. I was beyond enamored with Paris and went home feeling greatly enlightened and changed by the experience.
I thought I'd feel the same magic the second time around, but something about visiting a foreign country alone changes your perspective of it. You get a more raw, real insight into how people are and what life is actually like. I do not speak French as well as my step mom, so Parisians were quite rude and not at all helpful to me. To walk through the streets dragging a huge suitcase trying to find the apartment you will be a temporary resident in, and not have a single person offer to help or give any useful directional guidance is very frustrating. I arrived at the apartment dripping with sweat, tears welling in my eyes. I had been in Paris all of 2 hours and was ready to leave. My love was soon restored, though, once I got settled in and actually started to explore the streets and beautiful architecture. I visited museums, cafes, book stores, flea market (which is unlike anything you will ever experience in the states-- incredible and rare REALLY old stuff), cemeteries, farmer's market...everything. After 2 days I had learned the Metro system and had a fairly decent sense of direction. I felt safe and secure wherever I was. After 5 days of ham and cheese and French French French everywhere, however-- I mean EVERYTHING comes with ham and cheese, even food you wouldn't expect to-- I was ready to get out of there. So I hopped on a train and headed to London to spend a couple of days before it was back to the States.
London is awesome. I can't believe I hadn't visited it sooner. Not only does everyone speak ENGLISH, but they are all ridiculously charming and helpful. The tube system is entirely fool proof-- we're talking arrows and helpful hints everywhere-- and every single person you ask for directions will stop and help you. I won't go so far as to call myself a Londonphile, but I will say that the UK challenged France to a dual and won. Pip pip Cheerio!

There is a really great scene in "Midnight in Paris" when Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard's characters go back in time to Paris during the Fin de siècle era. Owen Wilson's character, Gil, has what he calls a "minor" epiphany that in every generation, there are those who glorify a previous era. People never appreciate the beauty of their own time. I would go even further to say, their home base. We do this because life can be difficult and banal at times. Escapism takes on a different form for each of us, but we all do it, usually coming to our own epiphanies that our life ain't half bad.

Perception is the key ingredient. It's amazing how quickly our perceptions can change. I arrived in Paris craving the same magic I experienced the first time I visited her, but left feeling somewhat disenchanted. That's not to say I don't still find the city beautiful and enthralling-- I do. But my youthful fascination served a purpose at a particular time, and it is impossible to recapture that. Much like how Disneyland is totally different experience for adults than it is for children. It's a bit sad, when a certain place loses it's "wow" factor, but I think it's just part of growing up. We develop new interests and find excitement in things that probably seemed stupid and boring when we were young.

After a week of travelling I was ready to be home. Every inch of me and my life resides in LA, but especially my heart. In France, locals were shocked at my independence: "you can eat and drink alone?" One girl asked me, "I could never do that. French don't eat alone." I had never thought of drinking a glass of wine with a sandwich and good book in hand as something strange.

Where and how we are raised, the things that inspire us, the people who love us and we love in return...these belong somewhere. We all belong somewhere. I belong in California. I suppose you could say that a week abroad found me in a very special, happy place. Happy with where I am, who I am, and no longer desiring of a faraway residence. Sometimes we need to go away for a little while to get centered again and fully realize and appreciate how blessed we are. I feel incredibly blessed and happy to be home...but thanks to a slight mishap with a flat iron in London (internation plug socket explosion anyone?), I am sporting a boy-short style again after frying a rather sizeable and noticeable section of my hair. I thought about keeping the look with Halloween right around the corner, but decided against it after much deliberation. It seems with all the feedback on Facebook, I made the right choice.

Au Revoir!

Fall Fabulous

My fall collection is finally ready to launch in just one week! And I couldn't be more excited about it. Two of my gorgeous and talented sisters, Jen and Jacqui, came out to LA with a couple of willing and also super talented friends for a fun-filled day of Alice-in-Wonderland-themed photo and video shenanigans. Having an accomplished photographer and nearly 6 ft tall sisters in the family certainly comes in handy for such occasions.
The photos will be available shortly (Jen took a LOT), but in the meantime, please enjoy the Brooch Brat promo for fall-- our interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland," or as we jokingly referred to as "hipster Alice in Wonderland." Enjoy!

We're all mad here...

The inspiration behind my fall Alice in Wonderland brooch line, was quite simply the concept of growing up. The story really is a great metaphor for life and self discovery-- trying to understand the world around you and where and how you fit into it. So many elements are involved, which makes the transition into "adulthood" such a fascinating one. From physical metamorphosis,to learning and adapting to change, understanding the struggles and advantages of language/communication, and the realization that mortality is an inescapable part of life-- life is one big confusing puzzle, and we go through it trying to put all the pieces together. Throughout the process we learn, grow, and adapt.
To elaborate on these themes and how they will play into my fall line and accompanying multi-media endeavors:
Metamorphosis: In my late teens/early twenties I had a mentor-- a talent manager-- who gave me some of the best life advice. One day she was reading lines from a script with me before an audition and I just started crying-- like uncontrollably bawling. She asked me what was wrong and I said in between sobs, "I looked at myself in the mirror today and suddenly saw my life, in fast-forward. I imagined myself at 25, 30, 40, 50...and it freaked me out. The thought of changing..." She looked at me square in the eyes and said, "You'll find comfort someday in knowing that change is the only thing you can count on." How true those words were. Change is inevitable, but what's so impressive is how well we adapt to it.

Learning the Rules: You can learn a lot just from reading a book, but in order for the words to have true meaning to you, there has to be some point of reference, and that comes from experience. With each new experience we become smarter, stronger, and more adaptable to change. Love, heartache, friendships, jobs...they are constant but evolving parts of life.

Language/Communication: Humans thrive on communication, yet, in our day-to-do exchanges it is often wrought with inconsistency and slipperiness. After enough experience with relationships-- both romantic and platonic, business exchanges and, quite simply, life, I have come to the following conclusion: Language is the most valuable source of joy and adaptability, but it can also be a source of great confusion. Every single one of us can justify even the most absurd ideas or behavior, and the arguments we make to support them are absolutely valid to us in that moment. At the root of finding compromise/common ground is reasoning, more so with ourselves than the other person-- discerning the logical solution even in the most illogical situations.

Death: Death is the final step in the process of "growth." Once we come to terms with the inevitably of it--that there is no escaping it-- it makes life seem more real and important somehow. A gift not to be taken for granted.

I will be using lots of black, red and white in my fall line, as well as hearts, linking chains, and timeless charms-- all signifying the stages of growth in life. It has been quite fun and therapeutic developing the concepts, and I can't wait to be able to show the finished products! Very proud of this endeavor. Here's my favorite so far...

Laud de da da

Impervious charm
Impeccable wit
But timing’s such
A piece of shit
The words preferred
Can never flow
Against the current
With a heart in tow
So you watch them
Fester, botch, unfurl
And fuck shit up
Like an off-tune skirl
Then you close your eyes
Make them count to ten
Hoping all the while
You’ll feel better when
The fog is lifted
Time has healed
The broken parts
That love concealed
All the cracks and doubts
And guilt and blame
Two hearts that felt
But not the same
Lose the will to laud
Patch and sew
Healthy patterns
With stuff you know
And some fine day
That timing bitch
Will find at last
The perfect stitch
And the whole of you
And the sum of “we”
Will be the whole of love
And the end of “me”

Snooki Wookie

For some reason Nicole Polizzi's "Jerz stage name" makes me think of Han Solo's right hand man, er, Wookie, Chewbacca (or Chewie if yo' nastaay). Aside from the obvious rhyming names factor, her "English" is just about as unintelligible as Chewie's language.
I will never quite understand the popularity of "Jersey Shore." In conjunction with nonsensical slash annoying viral videos of cats, the intelligence of the American people leaves much to be desired. The preference for insipid self-parodies over thought-provoking substance is a sad reality, and one in which I remain a minority social deviant.
Nevertheless, I'm interested in social norms, trends, trainwrecks, etc.-- I study them all day long at work. Like dating in Los Angeles, pop culture is something that both eludes and fascinates me-- like an Anthropological study of an African Tribe-- I observe, take notes, and try to understand despite the obvious communication barrier.
Snooki looks and sounds ridiculous, but it's her sthick and people love her for it, and even if they don't, for some reason they just can't get enough. If Reality TV was a sugary, high calorie adult beverage that tastes oh so yummy but you know you're going to regret the next day, "Jersey Shore" would be a Lemon Drop Martini and Snooki would be the sugary rim. Without her, "Jersey Shore" and the world at large would not quite be the same. Without Snooki, the social deviants like me would have no one to dissect and contemptuously ridicule.
The world needs Snooki like it needs an Apocalypse, but fame is built on wants, not needs. The ratings have spoken. The people want Snooki...until the next self-parody is invented that is.

I would like to broochify Snooki, but from a distance-- I don't know where many parts of her body have been. Since the new season is all about Italy, the "Anchors Aweigh" Brooch seems adatto. Arrivederci!

Gratitude, Generosity & Gallantry

Over lunch yesterday at my favorite food spot in the Grove, sitting at the bar counter with a delicious turkey sandwich in hand and ESPN programming dancing on the suspended TV, I overheard a conversation that piqued my curiosity. One of the best things about eating alone is the ability to take in your surroundings and, as I've found thanks to many people watching opportunities, feel better about your own life. Turns out there are a LOT of crazy people out there.

2 women-- one in about her mid-thirties, the other in her early-to-mid twenties-- and a guy, who I instantly recognized as an Aussie (2011 has been the year of meeting/observing/crushing on Aussies') entered the restaurant and took seats at the bar kitty-corner to me. The woman in her mid-thirties (who we'll call "Thirty" moving forward, for lack of creativity) immediately started talking about herself and her horrible predicament. Within 5 minutes I was able to gather that these three individuals: 1). Worked at an ad agency 2). Were not happy working at this ad agency (or, at least Thirty wasn't), and 3). Ungrateful ass holes. Do not take the last one with a grain of salt. My sandwich grew less and less appetizing as I listened to the embittered Thirty talk about how the Aussie always gets recognition and positive reinforcement on his work but she never does. She complained for a solid 10 minutes, sounding incredibly ungrateful, patronizing, and immature. I threw my credit card down on the counter in true Brooch bratty disapproval to pay and get up out of therrrr before I lost my temper.

As someone who (when I'm not brooching), works hard for a small company, wearing many hats and never complaining about the load I take on (at least to those I work with), it's incredibly irritating to hear people complain about their jobs, and in the company of people they work with (talk about unprofesh!). Espesh when it's related to not getting "pats on the back" for a job well done...HELLO, it's called your job! It's not a swim meet or Junior High softball game. Your "trophy/medal" is your paycheck. If you don't like your job or the paycheck, go work somewhere else. Or don't work at all. Opportunities and choices abound in the modern, techno-savvy world!

Work is not always fair, but it's not about fair. It's about the bigger picture-- making a company increasingly profitable. It might not make sense to us. We might feel taken for granted at times, but the only person keeping us in a situation we're unhappy with is ourselves. That said, the grass ain't always greener on the other side.

I don't have all the answers, but I do know that ungrateful people will be ungrateful regardless of what they do or how much or little they are acknowledged for what they do. Until they change their outlook, that is.

I try to see life as one big job-in-the making. Every part of it just as significant as any other. If we neglect one area, other areas will soon follow suit. It's like a great balancing act that takes constant work and attention. What life yields for you is 75% dependent on what you put into it and how you view it. Perception is so significant. You can't blame other people or circumstances. Plenty of people overcome adversities most of us couldn't even fathom to achieve greatness, and they do it, not by viewing themselves as a victim-- "me vs them/the world"-- but by accepting their circumstances and choosing to rise above them.
It's not always easy. We are all are susceptible to moments of self-pity, depression, anxiety, frustration, and we're all entitled. Sometimes life is really hard. But in spite of the bumps, we have to remind ourselves to express gratitude for the things we do have-- focusing on our blessings and strengths rather than shortcomings, or what others have that we don't. Besides the benefits to our health and mood, it just looks really pathetic to complain all the time. It turns people off real quick. It's amazing how connected gratitude and generosity are. The more gratitude we feel, the more willing and able we are to spread the wealth. On the flip side, when we harbor pity and self-doubt, it manifests itself as selfishness-- we are closed off to giving and receiving love and kindness. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. And then there is gallantry, in the sense of courage and civility, which is an incredibly attractive quality that attracts positive people and positive things to us. I mean, it's not some secret or rocket science. It's just common sense. Positive attracts. Negative repels. 'Nuff said.
This week, I dedicate the Trilogy Brooch to the three beneficial traits mentioned: Gratitude, Generosity and Gallantry, represented by each pearl below. Pearls of wisdom-- is that taking it too far?
Ok, I'm done.

Wingardium Leviosa!

I am embarrassed to openly admit I almost made it halfway through the first Harry Potter novel but couldn't bring myself to read any further. At the time, I was a Jane Austen reading, Romantic poetry loving, well, overall Romantic-- both hopeful and hopeless--and I couldn't be bothered with such Wizardry nonsense. Since then, my bookish interests have spanned many subjects, authors, time periods and species, though I still remain a die hard Romantic at heart. Since Sci-fi tickles my nerd bone, you'd think a world of magic and spells and brooms and quidditch would be amusing to me...but it leaves me less than enthused. I just don't get it. I know that my disinterest in Wizard schools and vapid teen Vampire love stories makes me anomalous slash lame, but I am who I am and I'm damn proud of it (can I get an "amen?!") I've read "Pride and Prejudice" exactly 8 times, and just recently lucked out on a first edition of "Sense and Sensibility" circa 1814, when Jane Austen's nom de plume was "A Lady," for $45 at a yard sale because the seller didn't know it was worth many thousands. Yes, I bask daily in the self-indulgent excitement of it when I wake up and see it on my book shelf in the morning and visualize the day I will swim in a pool of gold coins and dolla billz like Scrooge McDuck when it's worth even more monies. Don't judge me.

While my book tastes border on lame and lamer (please excuse the "lame" abuse), when it comes to movies I am all over that Wizard shi*...like white on rice on it...like spots on a leopard on it...like...ok, you get my drift...I love the Harry Potter Movies! Every. Single. One. Of. Them. It's a hearty love that sticks to the ribs, and I'm not embarrassed that I get more scared while watching them than most toddlers in the audience. They are INTENSE! In the best possible way. I can't wait to see the final installment "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" which is sure to be an amazing, albeit emotional, ending to a great Potter Era. I will stuff my face with popcorn with dear friends. Maybe I'll wear a witch hat. Maybe I won't. Many costume ideas remain undecided, though one things for certain...yep, I will most definitely for sure without a doubt be donning a brooch. Maybe 2. Or 3, or 6.

Lookit these babays...They'z all growed up!

My dedication to the Harry Potter series is the "Jeepers Peepers" Brooch that is somewhat reminiscent of Hedwig, no?

Boot Scootin' Boogie

So excited about the arrival of Summer, I wrote a little poem to the tune of "My Favorite Things" about it:

Sunshine on bikini bods down by the beach
Sweet wine in the Summertime with a juicy peach
Cute, quaint apartments filled with friends and love
These are the whimsical things I dream of

Summer Solstice began on June 21st this year, and with it, Summer fiiiinally decide to grace Los Angeles with it's long-awaited gorgeous presence. Out with the tights and long, heavy sweaters. In with the light maxi dresses, bloomer shorts and cropped tees. The credit card has definitely enjoyed the many 'play dates' it's had lately with cash registers, though the diminishing bank funds do not share the same enthusiasm. What can I say, sometimes a lady just needs to shop! Groceries and bills are overrated anyway.

This week I decided to shy away from celeb glorification and honor, instead, the most awesome little boots I have ever purchased...in 2011...so far...There's a high probability that another pair will catch my eye at some point, but until then, I am crazy in love with Zara's TRF Motorcycle boots, and yes, I have worn them every single day this week, and yes, I have sung Nancy Sinatra's hit song more times than I care to admit thankyouverymuch. And maybe Brooks & Dunn's, too. The best part though, is I don't have to wish to broochify them...I DID IT! See...

*Pictured: Jolly Green Giant Brooch avail for sale at: www.BroochBrat.com

Humility- The Lost Art

Audrey Hepburn captivated audiences on the silver screen and stage with a certain humility and grace that could not be matched and remains untouched. It begs the question if such a rare gem could ever be recreated. Is it possible to replicate a beauty that resulted from years of war and heartache-- an emotionally detached and physically absent father, first-hand experience with the harsh realities and devastation of World War 2 in Europe, including malnutrition during the most crucial years of adolescent development and health complications that resulted from it. Audrey Hepburn did not happen by accident. Her big, expressive eyes, fragility and gentle demeanor told a story of where she came from and what she had been through. She was not a classic beauty by any means, but her humility, uniqueness and authenticity made her not simply beautiful, but exceptionally so.

Despite her honorable accomplishments as an actress, it is the contributions she made as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in the final years of her life that brought her the most satisfaction. She felt her life had been quite blessed in the years following World War 2 and the appropriate thing to do was to give back. She went above and beyond that, literally becoming consumed by her work and yielding to a level of empathy only someone with her heart and humility could.

She was a remarkable woman with a legacy that transcends the lives she touched during all her years as an actress and humanitarian. I grew up admiring slash obsessing over her angelic internal and external beauty, and still aspire to be even 1/2 the person she was. Audrey Hepburn is and will always be the number one Celebrity I'd like to Broochify. And I could think of no brooch worthy...except maybe the 'Loverly' brooch, since it was inspired by Audrey's Eliza Doolittle. "Woooouldn't it be loverly."

Checkmate

This past week human beings survived the rapture and the last episode ever...like, eva eva...of the Oprah show (I shed one little tear like Cry-Baby. A skill that has yet to prove as effective on dudes as it was on the ladies for Johnny D). That, or we're all disgraceful sinners stuck on this earth to create our own special hell out of carbon footprints that put Sasquatch's to shame, and internet and reality TV addiction, especially those containing obnoxious housewives who have no real problems, other than what body part to enhance/reduce next, so they create their own to have something to complain/cry about when they drink their wine at 2 PM. Yes, I am probably single-handed keeping the BRAVO channel and all it's glorious and intellectually stimulating reality shows in business, but we don't discuss such things at the Brooch Brat headquarters.

In case any curious minds care to know, I have approx. 100 cans/cases of soup, cup of noodles, vegetarian chili and tons of water and batteries for my trusty magnetic flashlight, and first aid kit ready in my closet in case an apocalypse of the Zombie or Biblical kind does in fact happen. Yes, I am a good person to know in case of an emergency and yes I will be your hero. Baby.

On a serious note and one related to Brooches but nothing at all to do with Zombies or [baby] Jesus or Oprah, I am obsessed with Checkered patterns. It is a new thing that's kind of always been a mediocre thing, only now it's been elevated to a level 4 out of 5 on the Checkered Obsessed meter. The catalyst in this whole ordeal is the Kardashians. Yep, another American Reality TV favorite...that the Brooch Brat has been known to watch ever so (rarely) often. During one of these freak viewings, I noticed that Kris Kardashian had very cute checkered items on her kitchen stove, one of which was a tea kettle. It was love at first sight, to say the least. But just as quickly as I fell in love, I forgot about it...until I woke up one evening after an epic nap and wouldn't you know it, one of the Kardashian shows was on TV (clearly, my dog had changed the channel while I snoozed) and there was my lover, the checkered tea kettle on the screen again, in all her water boiling glory. I could have sworn "Dreamweaver" started playing from somewhere unknown at that moment...and so was the beginning of my demise.

"Checkered tea kettle" Googling soon led me to the wonderful world of MacKenzie-Childs, who incorporates a checkered theme through much of their handcrafted designs which cover a wide-range of household items, from kitchen appliances to furniture to garden decor and more. I can not stop looking at slash drooling over their beautiful stuffs, which inspired a new Brooch Design-- Checkmate:


And here's my beautiful inspiration. Don't be afraid to admire her for a second longer than feels appropriate for a kitchen appliance:

An Education

Ashley Kirk: Berkeley, CA 5-15-11

This past weekend the oldest of my [all] younger sisters graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular Biology. It truly seems like just yesterday that Ashley first departed our hometown of beautiful and sunny San Diego en route for the cold and uber liberal college town, Berkeley, CA USA. I am not quite sure what compelled her to a). trade the always beautiful and sunny Southern California weather and year-round tan for Bay Area hard-nips-coldness and tree huggers, and b). Study molecules and soil samples and primates and spiders and all the other things she would fervently tell me about during our catch up phone chats and visits. Why wasn't she into Dance, Romanticism and the Arts in general like I was? Looking at the Periodic Table of Elements gives me terrible anxiety and makes me go cross eyed. Ashley dreams about it with a smile on her face. Biology is to Ashley what Dance and James Joyce were to me-- magical. Biology is the only class I ever failed and had to retake and even then, I barely skated by with a C (I cried for hours about it). I could write 25 pages on Oedipal Theoretic Evolution in my sleep, or the shower (where I do my best thinking), but ask me to write about cell theory or genetics-- forget about it.
Ashley has both impressed and baffled me, not only by her choice of major and school location (ok, ok so UC Berkeley was ranked as the second best school in the world this year by The Academic Ranking of World Universities-- big whoopee! ;), but by her decision to remain a student as long as she possibly can. She has her sights set on a PHD and who knows what from there. As her big sister, I couldn't be more proud of her decision to honor her hunger for research and knowledge. I really do believe she will contribute to the world of Biology research in a very big way and I'm just happy to be lucky enough to call her my sister and brag about her every step along her path to Academia excellence.

As I watched Ashley cross the stage on Sunday, it became ever so clear to me that my sisters are growing up to be bright and capable young women in their own right. They will be successful without my assistance; they will fall in love, have their hearts broken, mend them, fall in love again, make mistakes and learn and grow from them. They will experience all the wonderful and not-so wonderful things we all do, and must, to become better, smarter and stronger people. I can not protect them from life, but I will always be here to love and support them through it all and celebrate the high points with way too many hugs, kisses and "I'm so proud I could cry's." They will one day get married and start beautiful families and accomplish everything their not-so-little-anymore hearts desire and they will do this all on their own because they are hard wired for it. I am a proud big sister of Ashley, Jennifer, Megan and Jacqui, today and always <3

A Toast to the Fifth day of May

Today is the first Thursday of May, 2011, which happens to be the fifth day of the month aka "Cinco De Mayo" and a beautiful one at that.
It is a day of recognition and celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. It is celebrated throughout the United States and regionally in Mexico, and usually ends in my little corner of the world with a few flipped over shot glasses that once contained tequila, chewed out limes, and me passed out on a couch...hopefully mine...one can dream right...

Yes, for many Americans, the real reason for celebration is sadly (but also happily) slighted by the celebration of Mexican fare and yes, that beloved spirit made from blue agave, or maybe a cerveza. Complete with a Mariachi band and maybe some Folklorico, you have yourself a real fiesta. 'Ole!

In honor of our southern neighbors, I will be donning the Ruby Rad brooch tonight as I sip on a margarita on the rocks with salt and attempt some Spanish...4 years of studying the foreign language in school and all I can seem to muster are rudimentary "si," "loco," "me llama es Chanel," and "el perro se comio mi tarea." Yes, I'm embarrassed. But by 9 pm, I doubt anyone will notice what language I'm speaking anyway...

Something About a Wedding in the UK

Apparently some dude and chick are getting married in the UK, or so I've read on every blog, news publication and heard incessant chatter about on just about every radio station of the news and music kind the past few weeks. In case you're a cave dweller or just now waking up from a coma or Sleeping Beauty-esque slumber, there is a Prince and soon-to-be Princess involved, a kiss, two "I dos" and good prospects for a "happily-ever-after." The whole thing is just so gosh darn sweet it makes you want throw some freshly popped, buttery popcorn and soda in the mix and pretend you're at the movies. And if you feel so inclined, you can do just that at 3 AM PDT on April 29th. I will...be peacefully and deeply snoozing, but please shed a happy tear or two for me if you're a brave early-to-rise soul. No more, no less.

Kate Middleton is known to have a penchant for conversation-starter hats. Some of them even seem to contain a punch line, though I won't pretend to get the joke. What DOES it all mean? Kate keeps it classy, the way the Brooch Brat likes it. With more left to the imagination, we get to admire her beautiful smile and...well, those darn flamboyant head accessories. It goes without saying that the miss, soon to be Mrs., deserves a Princess-worthy honor from the Brooch Brat for being, if nothing else, the owner/wearer of the most awesome hats in the world....that I would like to Broochify. And oh yeah, she's marrying that Prince William dude. That's kinda cool, too. I guess.

Here's a collage of my fave Kate Middleton hat looks. Don'tcha think the Royal Picnic brooch would look ravishing on at least one of them? Well, I DO! ;)

Sweetest Wish Ever

So I promise to stop with all this birthday hooplah hoo ha blah blah after this post, but I just had to share the absolute sweetest bday wish I've ever received tonight which is now today which happens to be my birthday but when I received it, it was still yesterday. Got it! Good...

Without further ado...

"Hey kiddo. I remember when you were just the girl that worked with my sister, but now you're someone for whom I have an AMAZING amount of respect for. You have a GREAT heart and a GREAT mind, and soooooo much talent. The people you decide to show this to should consider themselves lucky. I know your birthdays not for another 10 mins but I don't wanna bother you while you play truth or dare with the girls on the ride tomorrow :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Have a safe and fun trip."

For every knucklehead or self-centered or jealous or whatever Debbie Downer road block person you encounter on your path towards a happy, fulfilled life, there is someone else just a little further down the path who is a genuine, caring, loving, respectful, selfless and OPEN person who will encourage you to feel good about yourself. These are the people who remind us when we sometimes forget...we matter. We are loved. We are blessed.

I feel loved :)

27 Things. 27 Years.

Friday, April 22nd marks my official ascent, or descent (depending on how full/empty your glass is) into my late 20's. I remember quite clearly, it was either the first or second grade and my teacher that year, whose name has escaped me, told the class her age...27...and I remember thinking, and probably out loud because, welp, I've always had a big mouth (ooops) "oh my gaawd! That is so old." I couldn't imagine what I'd be like at 27. It seemed so distant. So obscure. And now, here it is. Like a long awaited trip you've looked forward to in nervous anticipation only to arrive at it and find that it's not at all what you expected, for better or worse. Looking back at the last 27 years, but really more like 20 'cause who the hell remembers anything before kindergarten, really, I decided to shy away from a brooch-related post and entertain y'all with another of my fave hobbies-- musing. I'm obsessed with thinking, like ridiculously obsessed. Until someone invents a GPS for our brains, I'll probably forever be lost in thought. Something I've been thinking about a lot recently are all the valuable lessons I have learned over the years. I wrote a bunch down and the list ended up being like 100 deep before I realized I was over thinking the whole thing...go figure. I've condensed this list to 27...'cause I am duh, and here it is...*drum roll please*

1. DON'T.GET.LAZY. This mantra applies to so many areas of our lives: relationships, work, hygiene, physical fitness, etc. The second we get complacent and stop trying is the moment we give in to the easy way out.


2. Accept personal responsibility for your life. Sure, there are times when external factors are totally to blame...sometimes. But 9 times out of 10 there was something we could have or shouldn't have done to curtail a certain outcome.


3. Habit eventually becomes a personality trait. This can be a good or bad thing depending on the habit. Invite the good habits into your life. Kick the bad ones to the curb where they belong.


4. True friends are those who will support you through both successes and gloomy days. It's amazing how easy it is for people to liberally solicit advice when they feel they're on higher ground. See if those same people are as genuine in your celebratory moments after a raise or promotion...it's a harsh reality, but important lesson nonetheless.


5. Don't have expectations for other people or life, only for yourself. We have no control over others' actions, opinions, morals, perspectives, styles, moods, etc. We have no control over a vast majority of what happens on this planet. The only thing we have control over is the choices we make, which includes how we choose to react to whatever life throws at us.


6. It is better to be proactive than reactive.


7. Save Save Save. This applies to money, files, survival supplies, legal docs...anything of value. You never know when you might need it.


8. "Kill your darlings." In life, just like writing, if something is especially difficult to let go of it's probably best that you do.


9. Don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole. After enough experience with love, dating, etc. with the opposite sex I have come to realize that you can't make relationships work. They take work, for sure, but they should never be tedious. You and the other person should just fit. This includes physical, emotional and intellectual chemistry, common interests, and being in the same place in your lives and on the same page about what you both want. Embrace your differences but be realistic with yourself, your goals, and what truly makes you happy, because...


10. No one should make us happy, only happier. If our happiness comes from outside sources it is merely borrowed and will leave from whence it came.


11. Embrace what makes you, you. Weaknesses, strengths, and everything in between.


12. Always strive for the best possible version of yourself. You will never achieve it, thus, it is a lifelong goal and journey.


13. Don't say "yes" when you really mean "no."


14. Don't get suckered into believing you have to buy multiples of a particular item in a grocery store to get a special deal. That's how they trick you into buying more (my Great Granny taught me that one). How many damn boxes of Mac n' Cheese do you really need anyway?!


15. Practice empathy, always.


16. Never become so engrossed in others' lives that you forget about your own.


17. Read voraciously, from different genres, time periods, etc. The benefits greatly transcend the obvious broadened knowledge and vocabulary.


18. Listen more than you speak (this one I struggle with).


19. The more you talk about things you plan to do the less likely you are to actually do them.


20. Travel as many places as you possibly can. Expand your horizons and cultural awareness.


21. Be grateful for the things you have rather than focus on the things you don't. Don't take anyone or anything for granted.


22. Money and success can buy you a lot of things, but they can't buy you love.


23. Laugh at yourself often


24. Don't sweat the small stuff. It's really not worth it.


25. Good things really do come when we least or don't expect them to.


26. Jealousy and coveting are a big, silly waste of time. The grass isn't greener on the other side, which leads me to the last and final finis hasta la pasta...


27. Life is all about perception. How we perceive the world is based on so many factors and has such a major impact on our lives. This is why reading about a myriad of people and subjects, travelling, and opening yourself up to new experiences that challenge your views and broaden your understanding of the world, is so crucial for achieving what, in my opinion, is the ultimate level of existence...spiritual Enlightenment.

And the Encore...

28. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage and motivate you. We truly are mirror reflections of the company we keep.

Wild for Wilde

If I were a dude, I would totally, unequivocally, without a doubt seek a woman who is a living, breathing doppelganger of actress Olivia Wilde, if not the very actress herself. It goes without saying that if I were a dude I would be one of the most shallow human beings to ever walk the earth. But would you really blame me? I mean, come on! Look at the woman-- those eyes; the cheekbones; the perfectly sculpted jaw-- enviably, the closest thing to perfection any person, male or female, could hope to achieve. I both envy and love this goddess of a woman and would probably stare at myself in mirrors every waking hour of every day if I looked liked her in true narcissist fashion.

So what's the moral of this story kids?...It's a good thing I'm not a dude or Olivia Wilde...or her doppelganger.

Nope, I'm just a huge fan. And I'd love to Broochify her. Yep, Olivia Wilde made the cut, but really she's a cut above the rest as this week she ranks in #1 as the most goy'geous "Celeb I'd Love to Broochify."

The perfect brooch? Wasn't a tough choice at all. The oNeOfAkInD is more than befitting for such a unique gem:

And in the beginning...

...there were buttons...lots o' buttons, of many various shapes and sizes. Then came ribbons and glue and brooch backs and...a few days later, a concept was born: The Brooch Brat. Ta-da!

Brooches are not only what I make, they are what I wear, adore, and sometimes even drool over in true Pavlovian style. It's a tad ridiculous, I know. But I rather love my Brooch life and gosh darn-it, I'm gonna sing it from high mountain tops...or, um, just enthusiastically blog about it :)

First on the list of "So what?! It's a brooch. Big Whoopee" list is this little babay I call The Jolly Green Giant. And she's worth a whoopee shout out. Maybe 2. I love her...


I also think that my fave late night funny gal Chelsea Handler would heart the Jolly Green, too. It totally fits her spontaneous, outrageous personality, and I'm sure she'd have a few chuckle-worthy comments to make about it. Something like "If only my caslopas was pierced..." Good thing I don't write her material :p
Chelsea has achieved the highest honor one can hope to receive on the Brooch Brat blog...She is the first Celebrity to be featured on the "Celebs I'd Love to Broochify" list. It would, of course, be the most awesomest honor ever to bring that to fruition...